Cooker



April 22, 1947. R, GROETCHEN `2,419,261

u cooKER Filed June 3, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 22, 1947. R. GRoETcl-IEN cQoKER Filed June s, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 22, 1947.

R. GRor-:TCHEN COOKER 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed une 5. 1944 INVENToR,

April 22, 1947. R, GROETCHEN 2,419,261

COOKER-4 Filed June 3, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 22, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in cookers and has for its principaly object the provision of an improved construction of this character which will be highly efcient in use and economical in manufacture.

Among the salient objects of this invention is the provision of a cooker having an enclosure divided into a plurality of compartments by grid plates, certain of which are supported within the enclosure for manual rotation while the remaining grid plates are mechanically rotated during the process of broiling or cooking and at a speed of rotation which will be most effective for the purpose.

By thus dividing the enclosure into a plurality of chambers, one chamber may be used for warming purposes, that is, to 4maintain the food warm after having passed .through the broiler or cook-k ing chamber- AAestill Vfurther and equally important object of the invention is to provide in connection with a rotatable vgrid plate upon which food is supported during the cooking or broiling operation, a simple and effective arrangement for automatically removing the pan containing the food from the grid plate at a predetermined time when the food has been cooked or broiled to the desired point, which is determined by the speed of rotation of the grid plate supporting the food,l or by repassing Ythe food through the cooking chamber. The advantage lof such an arrangement, as will be more fully understood from rthe description hereinafter vvset forth, is found in the fact that the operator of the cooker, after having placed the food upon the grid plate, need pay no attention to the cooking operation until the food Lhas been removed by the automatic means from the grid plate, yfrom which plate the food is conveyed upon a platform, from whence it is taken by the operator toa place to be served to the consumer.

Yet a further object of the invention is the provision of circulating air to the burner elements of the cooker whereby there is always maintained during the cooking operation a continuous wave of warm air, thus facilitating the cooking opera- .tion with the highest degree of results within a minimum of time.

A still lfurther object of the invention is the provision of a cooker having a construction which facilitates convenient operationthereof as well as the placement of `food within the cooker either for warming purposes or for cooking or broiling operation, requiring but a minimum of attention thereto by the operator.

A Still further andequally important object of the invention is the provision of a burner structure Within the cooker, which comprises an arrangement of ceramic plates so arranged with respect to each other as to occupy the minimum of space and yet radiate the necessary and desirable heat to bring about the most efficient cooking results.

Another object of the invention is the provision of abutting door members, through the openings of which, access is had to the cooking chambers, the doors being so arranged that when open there is but one single door opening, thus exposing to the yoperator a substantial View of the grid plates. `v

Other objects will appear hereinafter. rlhe invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional detail view ofthe cooker embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a` sectional detail View of the same taken substantially on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view taken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an under plan View taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail view .taken substantially on line V5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is `Va sectional detail view taken substantially on line 6 6 of Fig. l;

Fig. 'i is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 1 1 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the Jbottom side of one of the burner structures embodied in the invention; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional dtail view taken substantially on line-99 of Fig. 8.

The drawings illustrate the preferred form ofconstruction by which the several objects of the invention are accomplished. In this connection, my improved cooker comprises a base structure I5 of any approved type or construction comprising a compartment I6 within which certain operating mechanism of the cooker are housed. This base structure mayvincludea base plate l1 preferably having its side walls I8 set inwardly from the side walls i9 of the base structure l5 for ornamental or other purposes. The top of the base structure I j5 comprises a Work table 20 likewise of any approved nstructure as will best serve the purpose, including a table portion 2| of such material Vas will not loe/scorched or burned municating with a fuel pipe 29 to provide a vent Y for the interior of the cooker. The enclosure 22 is divided into compartments A, B and C by means of grid plates 3U, 3| and 32. The grid plate 3D (Fig. 6) is supported by a center disc 33. This disc 33 has a hub 34 and positioned in this hub 34 is a stud shaft 35, the lower end 36 of which is reduced to provide a pilot 31 engaging in a socket 38 formed in a plug 39 xed to a hollow shaft 48. The hub 34 rests upon a collar 4| surrounding the upper end portion of the shaft 45.

The arrangement is such that the grid plate 33 may be freely and manually rotated about its vertical axis. Fixed to the shaft 49 as at 42 is a hub 43 having a conically shaped head 44 ntting into a conically shaped socket 45 formed in a disc 45 which carries the grid plate 3| in spaced parallel relation to the grid plate 39 and providing, together with the grid plate 3|), the cooking chamber B.

Fixed to the shaft 43 as at 41 is a hub 4B also having a conically shaped head 49 engaging in a like shaped socket 50 formed in a disc 5l which supports the grid plate 32 in parallel spaced relation with respect to the grid plate 3| and providing, together with the grid plate 3|, broiling chamber C. The shaft 49 extends into the cornpartment l5 through a bearing sleeve 52. This bearing sleeve 52 is formed as an integral part of the plate 53, the ends 54 of which are connected to supporting angle-like bars 55, the ends of which as at 56 are connected to the opposite walls of the housing l5. The lower end portion 51 of this shaft 4D terminates in a bifurcated portion 58, the bifurcations of which receive the opposite end portions 59 of a connecting pin 80 carried by the head 6| of a driving shaft 62 constituting part of a driving mechanism symbolically illustrated at 63, including a driven pulley 64 operatively connected by means of a belt 55 to a motor 66 or other drving agent. l

The arrangement is such that upon operation of the driving shaft 62 the shaft 49 will be rotated andA impart rotation to the grid plates 3| and 32 so that food mounted in plates upon these grid plates may be carried through the cooker over suitable burner structures presently to be described. Access to the upper compartment A is brought about through a suitable door opening (not shown) Vand preferably formed in the side wall of the enclosure 22. Within this compartment A is a supporting plate 61 which may be utilized for containing filled platters or as a plate warmer.

This supporting plate 61 is freely manually rotatable and is mounted in spaced relation with respect to the top wall 21 in the following manner:

Connected to the bar members E8 of the top structure 21 as at 59 is a sleeve 10. Positioned in this sleeve 1|! is an end portion 1| of a shaft 12, the end portion 1| being connected to the sleeve by means of a pin 1.3. The shaft 12 extends through a bearing 14 connected to the supporting plate 51 as at 15. Within a recessed portion 13 provided between the plate 61 and the bearing 14, the end 11 of the shaft 12 extends, and this end portion 11 carries a pin 18 which provides connection between the plate 81 and the shaft 12 in a manner such that the plate may be freely located within the compartment A.

Beneath the grid plates 39 and 3| are arranged burner structures 19. Each of these burner structures comprises a conduit 89 bent to conform to 4the circular shape of the enclosure .22 and supported adjacent the inner wall 24 thereof by suitable hangers Sl. These conduits are connected to a suitable source (not shown) of fuel supply, such for example as combustible gas or the like. Extending radially inwardly from these conduits 8U are stud pipes 82 perforated as at 83, the ends 84 of these pipes carrying a supporting ring 35.

Supported by these rings 85, with the cooperation of the conduits 55, are ceramic plates 86. These plates 86 each have portions 81 disposed between the adjacent burner pipes B4 and against which the flame from the burner pipes 84 is directed for the purpose of readily heating the same to bring about efficient cooking operation. Each of these ceramic plates provides converging ribs 88 between which is positioned a burner pipe 89 of Ya structure similar to the burner pipe 84. By this arrangement of the ceramic plates, each plate is heated to its fullest capacity in the shortest possible time and serves to radiate the heat uniformly through its entire surface.

To increase the cooking capacity of the cooker and to produce the proper heat for efficient cooking purposes, I prefer to form in the lower portion of the enclosure 22, air passages 93 and 9|. Air is admitted to these passages 90 yand 9| through the lower openings 92 formed in the inner wall 24 of the enclosure 22. Any number of such openings 92 may be provided. These passages Sil and 9| are separated by an interior partition 93. From these passages 9U and 9|, air emits through openings 94 likewise formed in the inner wall 24 adjacent the burner conduits 80.

This arrangement assures a free, rapid, and efficient circulation of air through the cooker, the air being admitted cold and heated during its passage through the cooker.

Access to each of the chambers B and C is provided through a door opening 95 normally closed by doors 96 so arranged with respect to each other as to have their adjacent ends 9B in abutting engagement with each other, wherebywhen all the doors are in the position shown in Fig. 2, the opening 95 will be completely closed. When such doors are open, the opening 95 is completely unobstructed so that free access may be had to the interior of the compartment B or C. The doors 95 are so pivoted with respect to the enclo-sure as to permit each door to be independently moved to an open position. By this structure a door opening of maximum size is provided to afford free access to the containers containing the food, upon the grid plates 3|) and 3|.

These grid plates 30 and 3| rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow (Fig. 2), and the containers or platters carrying the food are automatically ejected from the cooker, preferably by the following described mechanism:

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, there is provided in the wall of the enclosure 22 twol discharge or withdrawal openings 91 and 98,"theropening 91 communicating with the chamber B'and the opening 98 communicating with the chamber C. Mounted in a plane with each of the grid plates 3| and 32 .are shelves 99 and |00. Carried by the shelf 99 are spaced bearing brackets |0|l (Fig. 2'). These bearing brackets carry a shaft |102. Fixed to this shaft |02 are spaced sprocket wheels |03. Adjustably secured to the underside of the shelf 99 adjacent the inner end |04 thereof is an elongated bar |05 having one end portion rolled to provide a stationary roller over which a sprocket chain I0? is payed. This sprocket chain |01 likewise extends around the sprocket Wheel |03. Associated with the shelf A99 are two such sprocket chains |07, and each of these sprocket chains has small projections |08 disposed thereon in spaced relation with respect to each other. 'I'hese projections |03 project through slots |09 formed in the shelf 99 and project slightly above the to-p surface Y| l 0 of theshelf 99.

Carried by this shaft v|02 is another sprocket 1H having connection with a sprocket H2 carried by a shaft H3 mounted in suitable bearing brackets IM .disposed against the under surface H5 of the shelf |00 (Fig. 4). This shaft ||3 is journaled through suitable bearing sleeves H3 formed as an integral part of a T-shaped bar H l. The stem H8 of this bar H] is hollow in construction and journalled therethrough is a shaft I9. The stem i i8 is supported from the underside of the table l5 by a bearing bracket |20.

On the shaft H3 are spaced sprockets |2| around which sprockets, sprocket chains |22 are payed. These sprocket chains |22 are payed over stationary rollers |23 formed as an integral part of a bar |24 similar to the bar |95 and adjustably connected to the shelf |00 through slot and pin connections |25 (Fig. Ii). These sprocket chains |22, like the sprocket chains |01, carry projections |26 which project up through slots |21 formed in the shelf |09, and these projections protrude slightly above the top surface |28 of the shelf |09.

Fixed on the shaft 3 is a mitre gear |29. This mitre gear meshes with a mitre gear |30 Xed to an end portion of the shaft H9. On the opposite end portion of the shaft |9 there is positioned a sprocket gear 3|. A friction drive |32 is fixed to the shaft H9 (Fig. 5) and provides a friction drive between the shaft H9 and the sprocket gear |3i.' The sprocket gear |3| is yieldably heldin contact with the friction disc |33 of the friction drive |32 by means of a spring assembly |34 including retaining nuts |35 (Fig. 5). The sprocket gear |3| (Fig. 3) is operatively connected to a sprocket |3|' through the medium of a sprocket chain |32. This sprocket gear |3|' is carried by the driving shaft |36 which is drivingly connected through the medium of a train of gears (not shown) contained within a gear house |31 for simultaneousA operation with the shaft 40 upon operation of the motor 66. The outer end portion of shaft |33 is supported in a suitable bearing |38 mounted as at |39 to the floor |40 of the housing I5 (Figs. 1 and 3).

To guide the food containers or platters from the grid plates 3| and 32 onto the shelves 99 and |09, there is provided a guiding or directional structure itl. This structure comprises a suitable bar M2 extending with reference to the grid plates 3| and 32 in the manner shown in Fig. 2. Carried by this bar |42 are spaced rollers |43. The arrangement is such that when the food container or platter contacts with these rollers |43, the container or platter will be directed toward the receiving shelf where it is picked up by the projections of the sprocket chains and carried from within the cooker to a position upon the shelf, where it can be readily removed by the chef. vShould for any reason the mechanism for automatically withdrawing or ejecting the food container or platter from Within the cooker, become jammed or otherwise rendered inoperative, the motor driving the gear train within the housing |37 and in turn the shaft |36 will continue to operate, but the sprocket |3| will rotate freely upon the shaft H9 without operating the latter shaft until the jammed mechanism, or that which is .causing the inoperativeness of the mechanism, is removed and the mechanism again permitted to operate in its normal manner.

In most cookers With which I am familiar, the mechanism for operating the cooker requires Isuch attendance of the chef as diverts his attention from the .cooking process and as a result the food passing through the cooker is not given its proper attenti-on. From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be obvious that the chef or operator of the cooker need not apply his .attention to any part of the mechanical -operating parts `of the coo-ker, but may devote his entire .attention to the process of cooking the food. As a result the food when Withdrawn from the cooker is cooked to a proper condition and possesses appealing taste to the consumer. In general, cookers with which .I am familiar are complicated in construction and require considerable attention. The cooker embodying my invention contains mechanism of the simplest nature, mechanism that will not easily become out of order, and as a result requires very little, if any,` attention from the chef.

A cooker constructed in accordance with the description herein disclosed, may be constructed at an economical cost and, as I have found by actual practical use, it will be highly efficient in use.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modication without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not Wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A cooker comprising4l an enclosure, grid plates dividing said enclosure into compartments, burner elements contiguous of said grid plates, means for rotatably 'Supporting said grid plates, shelf members carried by said enclosure on the exterior side thereof, there .being an opening in said enclosure permitting the passage of containers from the grid plates to said shelf members, means comprising spaced roller elements for guiding containers from the grid plates in a direction toward said shelf members, conveyor means carried by the shelf members and adapted to receive the containers as guided from said grid plates, means for rotating the grid plates, and means for rotating said conveyor means.

2. A c-ooker comprising an enclosure, grid plates dividing said -enclosure into compartments, burner elements contiguous of said grid plates, means for rotatably supporting said grid plates, shelf members carried by said enclosure on the exterior side thereof, there being an opening in said enclosure permitting the passage of containers from the grid plates to said Shelf mem--v bers, means comprising spaced roller elements for guiding containers from the grid plates in a direction toward shelf members, conveyor means carried by the shelf members and adapted to receive the containers as guided from said grid plates, means common to the grid plates and conveyor means for rotating said grid plates and conveyor means.

3. A cooker comprising an enclosure, a rotatable grid plate in said enclosure, a burner structure contiguous said grid plate, means for supporting said burner structure in position contiguous said grid plate, means for rotating said grid plate, a shelf member exterior of said enclosure and in substantially the same plane with respect to the grid plate and adapted to receive a container from said grid plate, there being an opening in said enclosure permitting passage of said container from said grid plate to said shelf member, and means cooperating with said grid plate for moving said container from said grid plate through said opening onto said shelf member, said last-named means comprising roller elements adapted to engage said container and guide said container from said grid plate onto said shelf member, and sprocket chains arranged in pairs and supported by said shelf member and provided with projections protruding through slots in said shelf member to engage said container as said container is moved by said roller elertnents onto said shelf member from said grid pla e.

RICHARD GROETCHEN.

REFERENCES CITED The 'following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNrTED STATES PATENTS 

